MI Best - Weekend Edition - May 14, 2023

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GRAND RAPIDS | KALAMAZOO | MUSKEGON | 5.14.23

[LOOK INSIDE] An MI Best guide to a marvelous Munising summer trip

Muni-Sing the Praises of

Summer in Michigan!

SPONSORED BY Munising Visitors Bureau

s the weather warms and the wonderful waters of the Great Lakes beckon, it’s as clear as a glass-bottom boat on a shipwreck tour that Munising is the place to be this time of year.

Munising is a beautiful place to explore, abounding in breathtaking scenery and outdoor adventure. It’s where you can look out and see spectacular views of Lake Superior, and where you can get out on the water and look back on miles of colorful sandstone cliffs along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Munising is a mild and comfortable spot where you can escape in the heat of summer to cool off in nature’s air conditioning, powered by breezes off the massive lake called

Gitche Gumee. It’s where you can discover one stunning waterfall after another, hike through wooded trails to glorious cliffside vistas, paddle through crystal-clear streams and relax on some of the state’s most isolated beaches.

Munising is where you can enjoy the charm of a small town and the excitement of a big itinerary.

It’s where you can gaze at the sunset over dinner while reliving your exploits of the day and looking ahead to the activities of tomorrow.

In Michigan, this spectacular season doesn’t last long.

Come sing the praises of summer in Munising this year!

Sample

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mbark on a Grand Island Cruise and enjoy an informative and entertaining 2.5-hour boat tour around the national recreation area located a half-mile offshore from Munising.

Your expedition includes lunch at The Duck Pond Eatery & Beer Garden • Back on land, take a pedal-assisted tour of town on an e-bike from Munising E-Bike Rentals.

You can cruise around for an hour, a halfday or a full day. You can even pedal over to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore • Make a reservation for dinner at Tracey’s in the Roam Inn, where you can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with some amazing appetizers, entrees, drinks and desserts

SPONSORED BY Munising Visitors Bureau

• End the evening with live entertainment at Gallery Coffee Co., a coffee bar and concert venue right in historic downtown Munising.

in Munising

SPONSORED BY Munising Visitors Bureau

June 10-11

Pictured Rocks Days – free downtown festival with live music, food trucks, beer tent, arts and cra s, fun activities for kids

June 25

Pictured Rocks Road Race – a halfmarathon along the shore of Lake Superior with a 10k run/walk route as well

July 4

4th of July in Munising – food, music, fun and the best fireworks display in the Upper Peninsula

July 29

in Munising

Stories we e to shar

Summer Events

Grand Island Trail Marathon – 50k, marathon and half-marathon races held in the Grand Island National Recreation Area off the coast of Munising

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5 Waterfalls

that will wow you

HERE ARE FIVE MUNISING WATERFALLS TO START YOUR EXPLORATION:

SPONSORED BY Munising Visitors Bureau

Spring is a refreshing season, when nature’s thaw and April’s showers bring verdant rejuvenation and once-frozen waterfalls begin to flow again in an incredible spectacle that’s a sight and sound to behold.

Waterfalls bountifully dapple the Munising area, with 17 in the immediate vicinity. They present a powerful display come spring as the snowmelt pairs with the rain to create a roaring deluge.

The majestic waterfalls of

• MINERS FALLS – A mile round-trip excursion on a wheelchair-accessible trail is all it requires to soak in the most powerful waterfall within the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The gushing Miners River drops around 50 feet over sandstone into a scenic gorge to create this magnificent flow. Even the gently rolling path to Miners Falls offers beautiful sights along the way in the spring as a profusion of wildflowers encompass the trail.

the Munising area create many opportunities for sightseeing adventures. Whether you want to bike, hike, kayak or simply drive to witness these cascading wonders, they’re a splashing marvel to encounter.

FUN

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• WAGNER FALLS – This incredibly scenic waterfall doesn’t require too much energy to gaze upon as it’s nestled close to the M-94 and M-28 junction.

Simply park the car and amble along a well-maintained quarter-mile trail to an observation deck for admiration.

Tranquility flows easily here as the falls cascade 20 feet into a peaceful pool along the Anna River. Those traveling with young kids should prioritize this easily accessible waterfall.

More than 925,000 people visited the national lakeshore in 2022, down from a record 1.3 million visitors in 2021 yet up nearly 10% from pre-pandemic levels

FACTS

ABOUT PICTURED

ROCKS

• LAUGHING WHITEFISH – A moderate half-mile trail through a beechmaple forest spills out to one of the Upper Peninsula’s tallest waterfalls: Laughing Whitefish. Classified as a slide waterfall, it features a 100-foot drop.

It’s a quintessential waterfall to see in the springtime (or following a heavy rainfall) as the water really surges during this period.

SPONSORED BY Munising Visitors Bureau

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This year’s visitor fees for a 7-day pass are $10 per pedestrian, bicyclist or boater, $15 for a motorcycle and $20 for a vehicle. An annual pass costs $30.

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NAL LAKESHO

• CHAPEL FALLS – Lace up the hiking boots for Chapel Falls. A little more than two miles round-trip along Chapel Trail winds through an upland maple forest with several small hills to the 60-foot-high falls. Two observation platforms provide stunning views of the torrent upon the Chapel Basin. Those really feeling a spring in their step can continue the trail for another two miles to Chapel Rock and Lake Superior.

The property spans 73,000 acres with 43 miles of Lake Superior coastline and is open year-round for non-motorized outdoor adventures

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1966

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There are more than 100 miles of hiking trails that lead to stunning cliff-top views, beautiful sandy beaches and cascading waterfalls

1966

Pictured Rocks became the country’s first national lakeshore when it was designated as such in 1966

2022

The park in 2022 started charging visitor entrance fees for the first time ever, to supplement federal funding and pay for improvements

7 Pictured Rocks

Sights to See

at Sunset

• SPRAY FALLS – This 70-foot plunge into Lake Superior is best witnessed from the water. Its remote location along the gorgeous Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore encourages an expedition by kayak or canoe — although come summer, boat tours are available. Those who prefer dry land can dispatch from the Chapel trailhead on the North Country Scenic Trail for a 9.6mile round trip hike to a limited viewing area of the falls.

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SPONSORED BY Munising Visitors Bureau

While nothing compares to a sunset over Lake Superior, watching the rays reflect off magical cliffs and caves along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is truly an unforgettable experience.

Stretching 42-miles along the shoreline between Munising and Grand Marais, Pictured Rocks has some of the best places to catch stunning sunsets that showcase the cliffs and other unique geological features in a magnificent light.

1 MICHIGAN’S BEST | 5.14.23 | 2

BOARD A PICTURED ROCKS CRUISES’ SUNSET CRUISE. The Sunset Cruise departs late in the day, giving passengers the chance to get up close from the water and see the rays of the setting sun splash red, orange, green and blue hues across the Pictured Rocks cliffs in the beautiful Lake Superior twilight.

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FIND LOVERS LEAP. This is a favorite feature for most boaters, who can encounter the awesome sandstone arch from the water and watch the fading sunlight dance off the rock. Lore has it that a couple displayed their love for one another by jumping off the top of this arch together.

Of course, please do not attempt this – the water at the base is only a few feet deep!

HIT THE BEACH. The national lakeshore has a number of pristine beaches perfect for watching gorgeous sunsets including Twelvemile Beach with an adjacent campground, the secluded Mosquito Beach and Sand Point Beach. Located at the end of the Sand Point Road just four miles northeast of Munising, Sand Point Beach was named one of the “Top Five Summer Beaches in America”

by The Weather Channel.

3 More Munising

Adventures SPONSORED BY Munising Visitors Bureau

PICTURED ROCKS CRUISES: As the official concessionaire of the National Park Service, Pictured Rocks Cruises is the only vendor that can show off all that the lakeshore has to offer. There are three cruise options on tour boats that accommodate between 129 and 250 passengers.

Guests get to view the brilliance of the cliffs, sea caves and beaches on 2 ½-to 3-hour long voyages that travel between 32 and 40 miles along Lake Superior’s coast.

SHIPWRECK TOURS: Hugging the lakeshore between Munising and Grand Island, the eight shipwrecks of the Alger Underwater Preserve are a throwback to another era of transportation and shipping. Whether diving or viewing from a glass-bottomed boat tour, the wrecks are visible through clear blue and green waters that are breathtaking in their own right.

The area was a shipping sanctuary with the natural protection of Grand Island, but big seas sometimes proved too strong.

Wooden schooners, steam barges and steel freight ships dot the coast, including some more than 100 years old.

4Day Trips Delightful from Munising

DAY TRIP #1

– Marquette, approximately 45 miles from Munising Marquette is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula and offers a treasure trove of unique clothing and gi shops, boutiques, galleries and museums. The rich culinary history of the region can be experienced at many fine restaurants and breweries. And a trip to the ore docks to watch huge freighters being loaded is not to be missed.

Marquette attractions include Presque Isle Park, a forested peninsula that juts into Lake Superior and is known for its natural beauty. The “Island,” as it is called by locals, is easily accessible by bike path or automobile, and offers yearround outdoor recreation as well as serene settings for enjoying nature.

On the drive to Marquette, be sure to take a free, selfguided tour of Laknenland.

The privately-owned attraction features more than 80 large iron sculptures that you have to see

to believe. It’s open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

DAY TRIP #2

– Kitch-iti-kipi (“The Big Springs”), approximately 50 miles from Munising Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan’s largest natural freshwater spring, located northwest of Manistique off U.S. Highway 2.

The name means big cold water, which is why Kitch-iti-kipi is sometimes referred to as “The Big Spring.” To see the springs, there is a ra available yearround for self-guided tours.

Before or a er your visit to “The Big Spring,” you can enjoy the small-town charm of Manistique with shopping, dining and a boardwalk right along the shore of Lake Michigan.

DAY TRIP #3

– Tahquamenon Falls and Oswald’s Bear Ranch, approximately 100 miles from Munising Tahquamenon Falls is one of

RIPTIDE RIDE: This thrill ride, which takes place on a decommissioned Navy Seal jetboat, is unlike any other in Munising. Passengers will travel around Grand Island, stopping for scenic views of its cliffs and falls. Between the sights is when the action happens as the ride rips through the water at high-speeds, blasts into sharp turns and even pulls 360-degree spins to the delight of howling riders.

SPONSORED BY Munising Visitors Bureau

Centrally located and in the midst of popular attractions including waterfalls and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Munising makes a great home base for a variety of Upper Peninsula adventures. Here are four day trips you can take from Munising and be back in your hotel bed by nightfall.

the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. The Upper Falls has a drop of nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across, while four miles downstream is a series of five smaller Lower Falls cascading around an island.

Together, the falls encompass close to 40,000 acres stretching over 13 miles.

A must see while visiting Tahquamenon Falls is the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, located on Whitefish Point.

It is home to information and artifacts from too many shipwrecks to name, including the famous Edmund Fitzgerald, which wrecked 17 miles off the coast there.

On your way back to Munising, swing over to the largest bear ranch in the entire country. With 29 bears in four separate habitats, Oswald’s Bear Ranch is one of the top familyfriendly attractions in the Munising area.

DAY TRIP #4

– H-58 and Grand Marais, approximately 50 miles from Munising The Eastern gateway to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is about a 50-mile drive along H-58. The highway is hugely popular with tourists looking to see a variety of sites along the lakeshore, with various options for hiking, waterfalls, and

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inland lakes and beaches. This is a must see while visiting Munising.

At the east end of the drive is Grand Marais, a quaint little harbor town situated right on the shore of Lake Superior with sand dunes and waterfalls all over.

HIKE TO CHAPEL ROCK. You might recognize this fascinating rock with a lone, 250-year-old white pine growing atop it from its picture on the back of some U.S. quarters. It’s about a 6-mile round-trip hike to get there, but it’s well worth the effort – especially at sunset!

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SEE MINERS CASTLE. Perhaps the most famous landmark along the Pictured Rocks shoreline, Miners Castle is an interesting rock formation created by eons of wind and water erosion. It’s easily viewable from land with parking right at the overlook, making it an easily accessible viewing of the sunset.

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EXPERIENCE THE CHAPEL LOOP. Instead of an out-and-back hike to Chapel Rock, you can continue on to complete the 10-mile Chapel Loop that traverses the cliff edge at Grand Portal Point. It’s just part of the 100plus miles of hiking trails along the national lakeshore. You’ll feel tiny as you hike past Grand Portal Point, captivated by the giant, 200-foothigh cliff walls.

7 ENCOUNTER BATTLESHIP ROW. Along the same stretch of the Chapel Loop is Battleship Row, an imposing set of rock outcroppings that just so happen to look like a row of battleships lined up as if they’re ready to head out to sea.

MICHIGAN’S BEST | 5.14.23 | 3

Shipwreck coast

o

Lake Superior wreck sleuths discover two ships lost 108 years ago

GARRET ELLISON | gellison@mlive.com

PARADISE, MI

n Nov. 18, 1914, three vessels left Keweenaw Bay loaded with lumber destined for New York.

They never made it.

Now, two of those ships have been found.

The 174-foot steamer C.F. Curtis and the 174-foot schooner barge Selden E. Marvin have been located at the bottom of Lake Superior about 30 miles north of Grand Marias, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society at Whitefish Point announced Tuesday, April 11.

The ships are well preserved in more than 500 feet of water.

Historical society wreck sleuths found the Curtis in 2021 and the Marvin last year.

The Marvin and another schooner barge, the Annie M. Peterson, were being towed by the Curtis from Baraga, Mich., to Tonawanda, N.Y. when a storm hit. In total, 28 men were lost.

The Peterson has yet to be found.

“The combined losses of the C.F. Curtis, Selden E. Marvin and Annie M. Peterson have comprised one of the more tragic stories of shipwreck on the Great Lakes and certainly became one of the Lake Superior’s enduring mysteries,” said society director Bruce Lynn.

The loss was a major blow to the Hines Lumber Co., which lost almost one quarter of its fleet.

Corey Adkins, historical society communications director, said the Curtis discovery was previously communicated within membership circles but the wreck wasn’t examined with remote underwater cameras until 2022.

It was during that trip that wreck searchers came across a sonar blip that turned out to be the Marvin, he said.

Finding the Peterson will be “the last piece of the puzzle.”

The Curtis and Marvin are not where local lore and some historical accounts indicated they should be.

Some believed the vessels sank in shallower water or came ashore.

“As we find these wrecks, a lot of them aren’t where the historical records think they were,” Adkins said.

The wrecks are the latest discoveries made in 2021 and 2022 to be announced by the society, which conducts regular grid searches along Lake Superior’s “Shipwreck coast,” a treacherous

80-mile stretch of Upper Peninsula shoreline between Munising and Whitefish Point with no safe harbor.

In February, the society announced the discovery of the Nucleus, a 144-foot “bad luck” barquentine that sank in a storm off Vermillion Point in 1869.

OTHER RECENT LAKE SUPERIOR DISCOVERIES • The schooner barge Atlanta, a 172foot schooner barge that sank off Deer Park in 1891 • The Dot, a steamship that sank in 1883 • The Frank W. Wheeler, a schooner barge that sank in 1885 • The Michigan, a steamer that sank in 1901.

Finding the Peterson will be “the last piece of the puzzle.”

COREY ADKINS

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